This guide is for those of us who ride all the things, or are just getting into the sport and haven’t quite found our tribe yet, some basics are loved by anyone who’s pedaling two wheels for fun or exercise.
Here are our top gift ideas for the cyclist (or cyclists!) in your circle, from budget stocking stuffers to roll-up-the-garage-door surprises at every price point…
REI is Linking Together a Bikepacking Bag Range
A good frame bag is a must-have for riders who love long-haul adventuring and bikepacking, or for commuters and everyday riders who want to keep weight off of their backs and have a little more space to carry essentials.
The REI Co-op Link Frame Bag provides a spacious, weather-resistant storage option that fills up the main triangle of a bike.
The bag comes in 5.25-liter, 9-liter, or 12-liter options, and can hold up to 10 pounds of gear.
The Link frame bag is composed of a puncture- and scratch-resistant nylon shell and polyester lining that makes the bag tough enough to handle the toughest conditions.
It also features a nonfluorinated durable water repellent that helps water bead up and roll off the surface of the bag, rather than soaking all your stuff.
The bag includes a 1.25-liter zipper pouch that nestles into the bottom of the bag, and a stuff sack to help keep things organized.
The bag sells for an MSRP of $80.
Sponsored Placement
Nite Ize
The Nite Ize Squeeze Rotating Smartphone Bar Mount provides a simple, yet elegant solution to mounting just about any phone to the bars or stem of a bike.
The Squeeze mount offers a tool-free strap attachment system that allows for lightning-fast installation and removal without the headache of having to fiddle with tiny bolts or slim rubber bands that are a chore to unhook.
The mount fits any smartphone ranging from 2.3 to 3.6 inches in width.
In addition to providing a secure and reliable hold on road, gravel, or even trail, the Squeeze mount also features unique 360-degree rotation to allow users to easily switch from portrait to landscape orientation.
The Squeeze mount is available in black or white for an MSRP of $26.
Sponsored Placement
Lectric Bikes
For those looking to put a little more power in their ride, there’s never been a better time to get your hands on an e-bike.
The Lectric XPress 750 e-bike makes commuting zippy and fun with a 750w rear-hub motor that offers 85 Nm of torque, which is more than enough power to effortlessly cruise up urban hills and bike paths.
The XPress 750 has a top assisted speed of 28 mph and a range of up to 60 miles. Other features include a color LCD display, torque sensor, and a suspension fork with 80mm of travel that makes the bike comfortable and extremely user-friendly.
The Lectric XPress 750 is currently on-sale for $1,299 in either step-over or step-through models. Plus, now through December 31 shoppers will receive $365 in free accessories with the purchase of an XPress 750.
Sponsored Placement
Best Cycling Gifts Under $25
Ornot MacGyver Strap ($8, available at Ornot) this versatile strap may seem simple and not very flashy. But what it lacks in the bling department it makes up for in the versatile market. Is the ride warming up? Strap your jacket to the frame. Don’t need your gloves anymore? Strap them to your bike. Carry an extra tube, your snacks, a banana, you name it, this strap will come in handy, Ornot.
Every cyclist needs a multi-tool along for the ride, and the Park Tool IB-2 ($19, available at REI and Competitive Cyclist) has most of what you’ll need in a tiny, lightweight package that fits in a saddlebag, jersey pocket, or even the tiny side pockets on some hydration pack waistbands. It’s a great starter tool or a perfect replacement for the weight weenie. (Check out all our favorite mini-tools here)
Chamois Butt’r may be the original anti-chafe cream (or at least the best known), but it wasn’t until they introduced their Coconut Oil & Shea Butter formula ($17.99, available at Amazon) that it became one of our favorites. Along with a good pair of padded shorts, a good chamois cream will improve rider comfort, especially if you’re not used to spending much time on a saddle. (Check out all our favorite chamois creams here)
Full disclosure here, the all-new Biking for Dummies book ($15, Amazon) was written by Bikerumor founder Tyler Benedict and co-edited by EIC Zach Overholt. As such, the book makes our technical expertise fun and approachable to the beginner cyclist but keeps plenty of interesting tidbits for enthusiasts, too. With an overview of every type of bike and every category of riding, plus detailed explanations of how all the latest components and technology works, it’s the perfect all-in-one summary of everything bike! If you have friends and family just getting into cycling, it makes a great gift to get them up to speed quickly.
Best Gifts For Cyclists Under $50
The Topeak SmartGauge D2 ($32.99, available at Amazon) digital tire pressure gauge does a bit more than just check the air in your bike tires, it’ll also check your suspension fork and shock (up to 250psi at least, so heavier riders might find it doesn’t quite go high enough on some rear shocks). It works with both Presta and Schrader valves, rotates to keep the screen in view, and has a pressure release valve to help you dial in your setup.
No matter what type of cyclist you’re buying for, they all have aches and pains. That’s why the KT Health Ice Sleeve ($29.99) is one of the best gifts for cyclists. We use ours a lot, and we’re convinced it’s resulted in more time on the bike with less pain. Unlike a traditional ice pack or bag of frozen peas, the Ice Sleeve is made from a soft, flexible fabric filled with a semi-solid gel that won’t ever leak. Not only does it stay in place so you can still move around the house, but it also provides gentle compression to help reduce swelling. Available in three sizes for use on knees, elbows, arms, legs, and other areas if you get creative.
The Adventure Medical Kits Ultralight/Watertight .7 ($33 at REI) is a compact first aid kit in a waterproof pouch that fits in a jersey pocket. This means it’ll fit in a hip pack, hydration pack, or glove box just fine, too. We take one with us on almost every ride, and there’s a bit extra room to customize it with whatever meds or little additions you want to add.
Ergon GE1 Evo Factory ($39.95, available at Ergon) Most grips that boast relief from hand numbness, often end up feeling too vague and squishy, leaving the rider feeling less in control. The GE1 Evo Factory grips manage to accomplish the real job of offering relief from hand discomfort. Plus they offer great damping that doesn’t leave you feeling disconnected from the trail.
For $40, the Ergon GE1 Evo Factory grip is a low-cost, upgrade for your bike that will yield very noticeable differences in your ride feel and hand comfort.
Rapha Racing Books
Unsure about what to get the roadie in your life? Are they too particular (like all roadies), and you don’t want to buy them the wrong gels or kits? Check out Rapha’s newly released coffee table books. They are the perfect addition to any roadies training den or living room.
Kings of Pain ($55) is a hard-back book filled with beautiful (to cyclists) photos of the sport’s most iconic days. It is also packed with short stories and information to engage even the most tangential cycling fan.
The Extra Mile ($45) is another highly recommended book by Rapha. It covers the start and progression of the brand through the years, what influenced it, what events it held, and everything in between.
Also, you should buy your favorite cyclist a liter of Stan’s No Tubes Race Day Tubeless Sealant ($44 at Stan’s). Pretty much every serious bike rider has gone tubeless for all the right reasons over the past decade or so. But most of us forget that we have to actually refresh the sealant in our tires at least every year. Many new tubeless sealants have come and gone, but Stan’s was really the original. And you’d still be hard-pressed to find a better and more universally appreciated sealant than their Race Day formula. This is a super practical one, like finding new merino socks under the tree. But we’re all adults, right? And this is a gift all of us would be happy to unwrap.
Bicycle Gifts under $100
The Muc-Off 8-in-1 Bicycle Cleaning Kit ($80, available at REI) gets you all of the essential brushes to clean every part of your bike, plus a spray-on cleaner that gently releases grime from your chain or road spray. We like this because it lets us add whatever degreaser and chain lube we like, and it’s half the price of their bigger kit while still giving you all the right brushes.
We are firm believers that every bike should be equipped with a bell to help stay safe by being heard. The Spurcycle Original Bell ($59 at REI) is not only our favorite, but it is a real thing of beauty. It can be heard pretty far away with its distinctive “ring”. It’s a sharp but pleasant ring that we’ve witnessed penetrate trail users’ headphones. These are precision-built in the USA for a lifetime of bell ringing. Comes with the ability to swap from a handlebar with a 2.22 diameter, to a bar with a 31.8 diameter.
If your favorite cyclist has been dropping hint that they need more hydration, the Camelbak Hydrobak Light 50oz ($65) could be a good place to start. The minimalist hydration pack includes a 1.5L (50oz) Crux reservoir with a Quicklink disconnect hose and an Air Support Light back panel with ventilated harness straps. There’s also a secure zippered pocket for essentials and the ability to carry a helmet, spare tube, and a light.
Regardless of what type of cyclist you’re buying for, there are times when we’ll skip the full Spandex kit but we still want some padding. Whether it’s for a long spin around town or a casual ride with friends. The Club Ride Woodchuck (Men’s, $60 available at Club Ride Apparel) and Montcham (Women’s, $60 available at Club Ride Apparel) are super comfortable under regular shorts (or even jeans), with just enough compression to support muscles on longer, harder rides, too. They’re great under MTB baggies, too!
Don’t forget your Local Bike Shop! In fact, any of this stuff you can find locally should be bought locally. And let’s face it, there’s always going to be some repair we don’t wanna do ourselves or some part we need in a pinch. Buying local and supporting your favorite bike shop means they’ll be around when you need them! Grab a Gift Certificate to your cyclist’s favorite shop so they can get exactly what they need when they need it!
Best Cycling Gifts under $250
Sure, you can get cheaper floor pumps, but few if any will outlast a Silca. In fact, chances are this will get passed down to the next generation of cyclists from its original owner. The Silca Pista Plus Floor Pump ($200, available at REI) is a do-it-all pump with its special Presta valve chuck that makes it quick and easy to inflate any bike you’ve got. And it’s fully rebuildable, so it won’t end up in the landfill if something does break.
Technically, this combines two under $100 gifts to save a bit of cash as one Knog Blinder 1300 & Blinder R-150 Rear Bike Light Set ($150 direct from Knog) because cyclists need to see AND be seen. So, while each is solid on its own, this combo is even better together. The USB-C rechargeable Blinder 1300 headlight is like a tiny super-powered flashlight that you can strap around a handlebar, clip to a helmet, or hang under your out-front GPS mount. It’s bright enough for extending your road, gravel, or most mountain biking in the winter months, and snaps securely on & off the bike in a second. The Blinder R-150 taillight is simply bright and easy to loop around a seatpost, and has a USB-A plug built into its mount so you never need a cable to keep its battery topped off. Simple bright lights mean your favorite cyclist doesn’t have to stop riding just because Daylight Savings is back.
Theragun Mini
If you’re looking for the perfect gear bag companion for the rider you list, the Theragun Mini is it. Its small size and lightweight build make throwing in any race-day bag super easy. The updated Theragun Mini is 20% smaller than the previous one and has three settings to loosen up your muscles (lower back especially) pre- or post-ride.
Since incorporating the Theragun Mini into my pre-race warm-up, I’ve noticed less back pain and shoulder tightness during the race. It provides a slight “wake-up” to the muscles without overstaying its welcome. The $199 price tag is enough to make it a premium gift, but if you’re lucky, you can find refurbished ones on the TheraBody site for $140. Plus, it has an excellent case for falls, drops, and mishaps. My Theragun Mini has hit the pavement more than I can count, and it’s always good to go when needed.
Best Cycling Gifts over $250
Every cyclist should have a good work stand, and if you’re working on heavy e-bikes (see below), you’ll need a heavy-duty work stand ($495 ). The new Feedback Sports Pro Mechanic HD Bike Repair Stand ($495 at REI) is a burlier version of their impressive work stands that’s meant to handle ebike heft. Even if you’re not working on ebikes, heavier bikes like long travel mountain bikes, commuter bikes, and anything else that isn’t light weight will benefit from the bigger tubes.
Whether your favorite cyclist gets lost on purpose or by accident, make sure they can always make their way back with the wahoo ELEMNT ROAM V2 GPS bike computer ($400 at REI). The smart navigation features are easy to use, which is wahoo’s calling card – no need to spend hours learning how to use your GPS, just get on and go. The color screen has just enough color to call out important information, but it’s still easy to see in bright sunlight and the battery lasts long enough for all but the longest adventures.
